Emil Maurice

Emil Maurice
Emil Maurice wearing the Blood Order medal
Born	19 January 1897
Died	6 February 1972
Allegiance	German Empire  Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Schutzstaffel
Years of service	1920–45
Rank	SS-Oberführer
Commands held	Schutzkommando (protection command)
Battles/wars	World War II
Other work	Reichstag deputy, Luftwaffe Officer

Emil Maurice (19 January 1897, Westermoor – 6 February 1972, Munich) was an early member of the National Socialist German Workers Party and a founding member of the Schutzstaffel (SS). Together with Erich Kempka, he served as one of Hitler's personal chauffeurs. Unusually, he was one of the few mischlings (a person of mixed Jewish and ethnic German ancestry) to serve in the SS.

A watchmaker by trade, Maurice was a close early associate of Adolf Hitler; their personal friendship dated back to at least 1919 when they were both members of the German Workers Party (DAP). His party number was 594 (the count began at 501). With the founding of the Sturmabteilung in 1920, Maurice became the first Oberster SA-Führer (Supreme SA Leader). Maurice led the SA stormtroopers in fights which were known to break out with other groups during those early days. Hitler later in his book Mein Kampf mentions one fight in particular from November 1921 where Maurice was at the forefront of the SA unit during the fighting.

In 1923 Maurice also became a member of the Stabswache (Staff Guard), a small separate bodyguard dedicated to Hitler's service rather than "a suspect mass" of the party, such as the SA. It was given the task of guarding Hitler at Nazi parties and rallies. Later that year, the unit was renamed Stoßtrupp (Shock Troop) 'Adolf Hitler'. Maurice, Julius Schreck, Joseph Berchtold, and Erhard Heiden, were all members of the Stoßtrupp. On 9 November 1923 the Stoßtrupp, along with the SA and several other paramilitary units, took part in the abortive Beer Hall Putsch in Munich. In the aftermath of the putsch Hitler, Rudolf Hess, Maurice and other Nazi leaders were incarcerated at Landsberg Prison. The Nazi Party and all associated formations, including the Stoßtrupp, were officially disbanded. While in prison with Hitler, Maurice took down part of the dictation for Mein Kampf and is mentioned in the book.